Behind The Spotlight Chapter 125
The two actors stepped onto the red carpet in formal attire, Lawrence in a suit and Jolyne in a gown that shimmered under the flashing lights. Lawrence's tailored suit fit him perfectly, sharp lines enhancing his figure, while Jolyne's dress flowed like water around her. She held Lawrence's arm as they walked close together, their practiced smiles making it seem as if they were truly close, when in reality, they could barely stand each other.
Their fans screamed their names with wild excitement, voices blending into one overwhelming roar that echoed down the carpet. Some fans held banners, others waved posters with their pictures. Photographers captured their every movement, the flashing lights nearly blinding them as dozens of lenses clicked in rapid succession. They posed for the cameras, their smiles kept in place, every tilt of their heads carefully calculated to create the perfect angle for magazines and newspapers, to look good from every direction.
When they reached the next spot, a female reporter stood waiting, microphone in hand, smiling brightly at the chance to interview two of Hollywood's stars.
"Jolyne, I'm a big fan. I just want to say you look stunning in that dress."
"Thank you." The actress returned the compliment with a graceful smile, her tone soft and polite.
"And you, Lawrence, such a young man, but full of charisma."
"I practiced in the mirror." Lawrence joked with a playful smirk, drawing laughter from both the reporter and Jolyne.
The reporter began professionally, asking safe questions about the film, their roles, and their experiences on set... until she touched on Jolyne's abduction incident.
"We know about the tragedy you experienced. I just want to ask—" she hesitated before continuing, "is it true that you flirted with Producer Perberto, and that he believed you were romantically interested in him, which led to your kidnapping?"
In short, was it your fault that you almost got kidnapped, Jolyne Robs?
Jolyne's expression faltered, her lips trembling slightly while her eyes dimmed with hurt. For a moment, the strong and confident actress looked like a fragile girl. The question cut deeply.
Lawrence's frown was immediate and sharp.
"Next question. That question lacks professionalism. I can't believe you even thought of asking it," he snapped coldly.
"Well, I mean—" the reporter stammered with a nervous laugh.
"If you have nothing sensible to say, then we'll leave now. I see you lack professionalism. How insensitive can you be? Jolyne was kidnapped, and you're blaming her? Is your brain even working?" Lawrence's words were harsh, his tone filled with scorn.
The reporter was left speechless.
Lawrence and Jolyne walked away. The actress smirked, amusement flashing in her eyes at how easily Lawrence played his role as the protective co-star.
"That's impressive. If you didn't deliver, I would've slap her."
"I didn't do it for you. I did it because PR told me to."
Before the red carpet, both Lawrence and Jolyne had been briefed in a hotel suite by their publicists, who walked them through possible scenarios and potential questions. The abduction incident was at the top of the list. Their PR teams predicted that reporters might ask offensive questions.
Together, their teams decided to turn the risk into an opportunity. Lawrence would step in and protect Jolyne if anything offensive was asked. That way, Jolyne could avoid saying something that might damage her reputation. She had a history of lashing out at the media, and Lawrence's job was to contain her temper before it ruined the night.
Just as predicted, the interview was broadcast on TV. Jolyne's hurt expression gained sympathy, while Lawrence's protective response earned admiration. The perfect narrative had been created. Their fans loved them even more because of it.
...
...
...
Bride Runaway told the story of a bride who had fled from dozens of weddings. During her latest attempt to escape, she stumbled and was saved by a young and handsome journalist whose curiosity was instantly piqued by the mysterious woman.
Driven to uncover her story, the journalist began investigating and learned that she had run away from wedding after wedding. He decided to write an article, but with incomplete information, his piece painted her in an unfair light.
The runaway bride challenged his claims. The journalist then traveled to her hometown, only to discover there was far more to her story than he first believed. She was innocent, misunderstood by society.
As they grew closer, the two slowly fell in love. And this time, the bride didn't run away from the wedding.
...
...
...
"Phew… thank God."
Jeremiah sighed in relief as he studied the opening weekend performance of Bride Runaway from his office, papers stacked high around him. For weeks, he had feared suffering the same fate as Taylor, the executive who was fired.
The black man in his thirties read the data received from the Cinema Alliance with trembling hands, double-checking the numbers again and again.
From August 1 to August 3, which was Friday through Sunday, the box office gross of Bride Runaway surpassed $44 million.
It was a satisfying performance, a clear success, especially for a romantic comedy in a competitive summer box office season.
Recently, Jeremiah had faced intense scrutiny for the scandal surrounding the production. Many blamed him for what happened to Jolyne Robs, which tarnished his reputation as one of the best producers at Wash Dismay Studio, a reputation he had spent more than a decade building. Even the Chairman had expressed his disappointment.
As the producer, Jeremiah had no choice but to shoulder the criticism. It was his responsibility to maintain peace during production and ensure no scandals erupted. Unfortunately, he had failed. Jolyne's abduction had become a massive story, one that nearly ruined everything.
He had worked tirelessly to fix the problem, even resorting to collaborating with ANT to mitigate the damage.
Thankfully, his hard work paid off. Bride Runaway was a clear success. For now, at least, Jeremiah could breathe easier. Surely he wouldn't be kicked out of the company… right?
Suddenly, his phone rang. The call was from Chairman Greg Marinero.
"Sir." Jeremiah answered nervously, his throat dry and heartbeat quickening. Sweat dampened his palms as he waited for the Chairman to speak.
"I saw the opening weekend numbers for Bride Runaway."
"Yes, sir. It grossed over $44 million after three days in 3,158 theaters across North America."
"Hm. You did a great job. Keep it up."
"Yes, Chairman!" Relief flooded Jeremiah. The Chairman's praise loosened the tension that had been weighing on him for months since the kidnapping incident. He had even resorted to pills just to sleep at night.
"However, I don't want a repeat of what happened last time. Work harder and don't make any mistakes."
"I promise, Chairman. That was the last mistake you'll ever hear from me."
"Alright. Your bonus will be given once the movie finishes its run. Work hard and intensify the promotion. If you have to, use Jolyne's abduction incident to attract attention. I want this movie to make more money."
Chairman Greg Marinero ended the call. For him, everything was about money. The film industry, in his eyes, was nothing else.
It was unfortunate that the studio had to increase Jolyne Robs' box office share, but in exchange, Wash Dismay shamelessly used her story to promote the movie. The result spoke for itself: the film earned more than anyone predicted.
---
[Thank you guys for all of your support. This novel has 51 advance chapters on Pat reon.]